The city is providing two boat slips, gratis, for Mote Marine research vessels at the Laishley Park Marina.

Punta Gorda Mayor Bill Albers said the scientists who conduct research from those boats will also be headquartered in the city.

“They’ve gotten some space from a local bank who’s donated a couple offices that weren’t being used and they’ve brought in two scientists and two educators,” he said.

Albers says the educators will be spending time in elementary school classrooms in Charlotte County.

Office space at Punta Gorda City Hall has also been donated to Mote Marine out of which to run its capital campaign. The goal is to raise $14 million to finance construction of a state-of-the-art aquarium in downtown Punta Gorda – a project that’s deemed beneficial to both parties. Albers says if all goes well the aquarium could be a reality in about two years.